Following four road fatalities between Saturday and Monday, the Trinidad and Tobago has revealed that August has been one of the deadliest months for accidents thus far.
A release from Road Safety Project Coordinator, Sgt Brent Batson, said of the four fatal road traffic incidents between Saturday and yesterday, half resulted in pedestrian deaths.
As such, the TTPS is appealing to road users, especially pedestrians, to be more vigilant and exercise caution on the roads.
In the first incident around 2 am on Saturday, officers of the North Eastern Division responded to report of a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian along the Lady Young Road, Morvant, near Fatman Lane.
The victim was identified as Kegan Nagee, 33, of Never Dirty, Morvant.
Even as investigations continue into that incident, the TTPS is appealing the driver of the car that struck Nagee to visit the Morvant Police Station to file a report.
In the second incident, which took place around 9.30 pm on Sunday, officers of the Western Division responded to a fatal accident along the Diego Martin Highway, near Suncorp Construction Services.
They found Malika Bobb, 35, who had been struck by a car and died at the scene. The driver, in this instance, has been assisting police.
Police also responded to a fatal accident involving motorcyclist Ezekiel Maharaj on Sunday.
Later in the day, police responded to an accident in which a Nissan Wingroad was heading along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, near Piarco. Police said the driver lost control of her vehicle, causing it to flip. The back passenger, Claudia Hicks, 71, of Talparo, died in that incident.
The Traffic & Highway Patrol Branch Roadway Surveillance Unit said these road deaths pushed the road death toll to 66— on par with last year’s figure for the same period.
“The month of August has proven to be one of the deadliest for 2023 with 12 persons losing their lives in road traffic collisions compared to six in 2022, an increase of 100 per cent,” Batson said in the statement.
“Although our enforcement efforts continue in targeting unsafe road use, road users do not seem to be receiving the message of understanding the dangers of engaging in risk-taking behaviours on the roadways, and sadly these preventable incidents continue to occur with immeasurable loss to families and loved ones.”
According to data, so far for 2023, 6,460 traffic tickets were issued for speeding; 16,511 were for failing to wear seatbelts; 4,644 were for using mobile phones while driving; and 1,402 for breaching a traffic light.